Attached files

file filename
8-K - CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES - State National Companies, Inc.a17-4716_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

State National Companies, Inc.

 

 

David Hale, COO & CFO

 

 

817-265-2000

 

 

 

 

 

Dennard · Lascar Associates

 

 

Rick Black

 

 

713-529-6600

 

State National Companies Reports Fourth Quarter

and Full Year 2016 Results

2016 Record Earnings with 15% EPS Growth

Company Raises 2017 Outlook

 

BEDFORD, TX — February 23, 2017 — State National Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNC), a leading specialty provider of property and casualty insurance services, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. The Company also raised its 2017 outlook.

 

Key Highlights - Fourth Quarter 2016 Financials Compared to the Fourth Quarter 2015:

 

·                  Total revenues were $60.1 million, up 9%

·                  Premiums earned were $35.4 million, an increase of 7%

·                  Ceding fees were $20.9 million, up 12%

·                  Net income was $14.1 million, an increase of 1%

·                  EPS of $0.33, up from $0.32

·                  EBITDA was $23.7 million, up 4%

 

Key Highlights — Full Year 2016 Financials Compared to the Full Year 2015:

 

·                  Total revenues were $217.1 million, up 9%

·                  Premiums earned were $129.7 million, an increase of 10%

·                  Ceding fees were $73.3 million, up 8%

·                  Net income was $49.1 million, an increase of 10%

·                  EPS of $1.16, up 15%

·                  EBITDA was $83.2 million, up 10%

·                  After-tax return on equity was 17.5%

 

Commenting on the results, State National’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Terry Ledbetter, said, “We are pleased to report another strong quarter and full year of performance that exceeded our guidance and generated a 10 percent increase in both net income and EBITDA in 2016 compared to 2015. These results reflect State National’s proven ability to produce strong cash flow and enhance shareholder value through our capital efficient, fee for service business model.

 

“From an operational perspective, growth in our Lender and Program Services segments led to significant earnings increase over the prior year. In Lender Services, premiums earned grew 7 percent in the quarter and 10 percent in 2016 compared to the prior year, primarily due to continued growth in our existing accounts and new accounts sales supported by solid macroeconomic drivers for car sales and rising loan balances in 2016. In Program Services, ceding fees grew 12 percent in the fourth quarter and 8 percent for the year compared to last year. We continued to grow existing programs and build new client relationships for fronting programs.

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 2

 

Mr. Ledbetter continued, “In 2016 we have continued to demonstrate the ability to grow cash flow and add long-term shareholder value. Based on our current view, we are raising our 2017 outlook.”

 

Total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $60.1 million, up 9% from $55.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.  Net income was $14.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $13.9 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the same period in 2015. Realized investment gains were $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 consistent with $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The impact of the realized net investment gains and losses (net of tax) for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $0.02 per diluted share.

 

Total revenues for 2016 were $217.1 million, up 9% from $198.9 million in 2015.  Net income was $49.1 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, in 2016, compared to net income of $44.7 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in 2015. Realized investment gains were $2.7 million in 2016 up from $1.9 million in 2015. The impact of the realized net investment gains and losses (net of tax) for 2016 was $0.04 per diluted share.

 

Lender Services Segment

 

In Lender Services, the Collateral Protection Insurance, or CPI, business is fully vertically integrated as State National manages all aspects of the CPI business for its clients, including policy issuance and administration, underwriting and claims, which we believe is a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Additionally, the Company differentiates itself from competitors by establishing long-term relationships with clients and providing high-quality service and advanced technology to more than 600 customers and tracking 6.4 million loans as of December 31, 2016.

 

Premiums earned were $35.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, an increase of $2.4 million, or 7.4%, from the fourth quarter of 2015. Contributing to this increase in Lender Services premiums are sales of new accounts, active account management, and growth in loan portfolios of existing accounts driven by rising automobile sales and higher average automobile loan balances.

 

In 2016, total revenues from the Lender Services segment were $133.0 million, an increase of $11.9 million, or 9.9%, from 2015.  Premiums earned increased by $11.6 million, or 9.8%, to $129.7 million in 2016 from $118.1 million in 2015. This increase for 2016 in Lender Services premiums is driven by the same factors outlined above for the increase for the quarter.

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses were $16.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $14.9 million in the same period last year.  The loss ratio was largely flat while the net expense ratio decreased to 37.1% for the fourth quarter 2016 from 38.4% in the fourth quarter 2015.  This resulted in an improved net combined ratio for the year of 82.7% compared to 83.6% in 2015.

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses were $57.7 million in 2016, compared to $53.8 million in the same period last year. The loss ratio improved to 44.5% for 2016 from 45.5% for 2015 and the net expense ratio likewise decreased to 39.5% for 2016 from 41.0% in 2015.  This resulted in an improved net combined ratio of 84.0% for 2016 compared to 86.5% in 2015.  Our long-term objective is to manage our CPI business to achieve a net combined ratio of 85% to 90%.

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 3

 

Program Services Segment

 

The Program Services segment provides fronting to general agents and insurance carriers to leverage State National’s “A” (Excellent) A.M. Best rating with its expansive licenses and trusted reputation to provide access to the U.S. property and casualty insurance market in exchange for ceding fees.  State National issues the policy, and the reinsurer assumes the risk.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2016, total revenues from the Program Services segment were $20.9 million, an increase of $2.3 million, or 12.3%, from the fourth quarter of 2015.  The growth in revenues was driven by increased ceding fees from both new and existing client programs.

 

In 2016, total revenues from the Program Services segment were $73.3 million, an increase of $5.4 million, or 7.9%, from 2015.  The growth in revenues was driven by increased ceding fees from both new and existing client programs.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased to $18.6 million from $16.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, reflecting investment in strategic growth, and increased expenses associated with SOX compliance readiness and stock-based compensation.

 

General and administrative expenses in 2016 increased to $70.0 million from $63.0 million in 2015, due primarily to the same factors outlined above for the increase for the quarter.

 

Balance Sheet

 

State National’s balance sheet reflects low financial leverage with only $43.8 million of debt.  This debt has limited covenant requirements and is interest-only until the early to mid-2030s.

 

State National’s investment portfolio has a short duration and consists primarily of fixed income securities, the majority of which have investment grade ratings. The portfolio is laddered to allow for reinvestment of funds as rates change.

 

Approximately $2.3 billion of State National’s assets are comprised of reinsurance recoverables, which are primarily related to the Program Services segment.  Offsetting these recoverables are unpaid losses, loss adjustment expenses and unearned premium liabilities for the same business. Recoverables of approximately $1.7 billion are secured by collateral held in trust funds for our benefit or letters of credit.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

In October 2015, State National’s Board of Directors authorized a $50.0 million share repurchase plan. The Company purchased approximately 969,000 shares for $10.0 million in 2016.  In total, under the program, the Company has purchased approximately 2.8 million shares for $27.3 million as of December 31, 2016.

 

2017 Outlook

 

State National is raising its 2017 outlook range for EPS:

 

·                  Diluted earnings per share: $1.13 to $1.21

·                  The EPS projected for 2017 does not anticipate any realized investment gains.

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 4

 

Conference Call

 

State National will host a conference call tomorrow, February 24, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2016 results.  To access the call live, dial (412) 902-0030 and use the conference ID number 13654626# at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.  Alternatively, investors can listen live over the Internet by visiting the Company’s website at http://ir.statenational.com/.  For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through March 3, 2017 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using pass code 13654626#.  Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for at least 90 days on the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at http://www.statenational.com/.

 

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

 

The last page of this press release provides a reconciliation of EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income, its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

About State National Companies, Inc.

 

State National Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNC) is a leading specialty provider of property and casualty insurance services operating in two niche markets across the United States.  In its Lender Services segment, the Company specializes in providing collateral protection insurance, which insures personal automobiles and other vehicles held as collateral for loans made by credit unions, banks and specialty finance companies.  In its Program Services segment, the Company leverages its “A” (Excellent) A.M. Best rating, expansive licenses and reputation to provide access to the U.S. property and casualty insurance market in exchange for ceding fees.  To learn more, please visit www.statenational.com.  State National routinely posts important Company information on its website.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Various statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending. Our forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, accompanied by words such as “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “plan,” “target,” “could” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes.

 

There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to recover from our capacity providers, the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage, challenges to our use of issuing carrier or fronting arrangements by regulators or changes in state or federal insurance or other statutes or regulations, our dependence on a limited number of business partners, potential regulatory scrutiny of collateral protection insurance, level of new car sales, availability of credit for vehicle purchases and other factors affecting automobile financing, our ability to compete effectively, a downgrade in the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, our ability to accurately underwrite and price our products and to maintain and establish accurate loss reserves, changes in interest rates or other changes in the financial markets, the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues, changes in the demand for our products, the effect of general economic conditions, breaches in data security or other disruptions with our technology, and changes in pricing or other competitive environments.

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 5

 

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, many of which are beyond our control. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 6

 

STATE NATIONAL COMPANIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands, except for share and per share information)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed-maturity securities — available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost — $329,994, $327,764, respectively)

 

$

332,107

 

$

329,522

 

Equity securities — available-for-sale, at fair value (cost — $3,271, $4,796, respectively)

 

3,224

 

5,544

 

Total investments

 

335,331

 

335,066

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

91,698

 

51,770

 

Restricted cash and investments

 

2,958

 

3,717

 

Accounts receivable from agents, net

 

35,964

 

23,913

 

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses

 

1,430

 

1,187

 

Deferred acquisition costs

 

1,194

 

1,075

 

Reinsurance recoverables

 

2,342,864

 

1,911,660

 

Property and equipment, net (includes land held for sale — $1,034, $1,034, respectively)

 

16,163

 

17,163

 

Interest receivable

 

2,112

 

2,158

 

Income taxes receivable

 

329

 

3,330

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

28,858

 

26,208

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

12,588

 

5,958

 

Other assets

 

5,248

 

4,353

 

Total assets

 

$

2,876,737

 

$

2,387,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

$

1,703,706

 

$

1,364,774

 

Unearned premiums

 

680,691

 

585,448

 

Allowance for policy cancellations

 

66,418

 

59,610

 

Deferred ceding fees

 

32,226

 

29,119

 

Accounts payable to agents

 

2,639

 

2,458

 

Accounts payable to insurance companies

 

14,871

 

3,801

 

Debt, net

 

43,783

 

43,740

 

Other liabilities

 

36,023

 

35,151

 

Total liabilities

 

2,580,357

 

2,124,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.001 par value (150,000,000 shares authorized; 41,924,440 and 42,699,550 shares issued at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

 

42

 

43

 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value (10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015)

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

229,297

 

224,719

 

Retained earnings

 

66,230

 

37,322

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

811

 

1,373

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

296,380

 

263,457

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

2,876,737

 

$

2,387,558

 

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 7

 

STATE NATIONAL COMPANIES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

($ in thousands, except for per share information)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

35,361

 

$

32,923

 

$

129,654

 

$

118,068

 

Commission income

 

366

 

391

 

1,381

 

1,465

 

Ceding fees

 

20,890

 

18,596

 

73,314

 

67,956

 

Net investment income

 

1,898

 

1,987

 

8,039

 

7,948

 

Realized net investment gains (losses)

 

1,028

 

1,008

 

2,735

 

1,888

 

Other income

 

531

 

395

 

1,947

 

1,623

 

 

 

60,074

 

55,300

 

217,070

 

198,948

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

16,169

 

14,798

 

58,756

 

55,753

 

Commissions

 

1,542

 

1,538

 

5,777

 

5,502

 

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

1,006

 

945

 

3,472

 

3,130

 

General and administrative

 

18,637

 

16,329

 

70,014

 

62,978

 

Interest expense

 

583

 

516

 

2,238

 

2,031

 

Total expenses

 

37,937

 

34,126

 

140,257

 

129,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

22,137

 

21,174

 

76,813

 

69,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax expense (benefit)

 

8,791

 

3,863

 

30,083

 

25,741

 

Deferred tax expense (benefit)

 

(750

)

3,397

 

(2,347

)

(853

)

 

 

8,041

 

7,260

 

27,736

 

24,888

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

14,096

 

$

13,914

 

$

49,077

 

$

44,666

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.34

 

$

0.32

 

$

1.17

 

$

1.01

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

0.33

 

0.32

 

1.16

 

1.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends, per share

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.24

 

$

0.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic

 

41,641,451

 

43,946,013

 

42,056,661

 

44,165,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted

 

42,118,789

 

44,005,264

 

42,157,710

 

44,188,593

 

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 8

 

Program Services Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

 

$

9

 

$

3

 

$

(1

)

Ceding fees

 

20,890

 

18,596

 

73,314

 

67,956

 

Total revenues

 

20,890

 

18,605

 

73,317

 

67,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

52

 

(70

)

1,053

 

1,987

 

Commissions

 

1

 

3

 

6

 

5

 

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

3

 

6

 

16

 

14

 

General and administrative

 

3,799

 

3,456

 

14,599

 

12,446

 

Total expenses

 

3,855

 

3,395

 

15,674

 

14,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

17,035

 

$

15,210

 

$

57,643

 

$

53,503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

343,794

 

$

277,092

 

$

1,301,756

 

$

1,119,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums earned

 

$

340,150

 

$

271,286

 

$

1,212,240

 

$

1,016,693

 

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 9

 

Lender Services Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premiums earned

 

$

35,361

 

$

32,914

 

$

129,651

 

$

118,069

 

Commission income

 

366

 

391

 

1,381

 

1,465

 

Other income

 

520

 

395

 

1,930

 

1,498

 

Total revenues

 

36,247

 

33,700

 

132,962

 

121,032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses and loss adjustment expenses

 

16,117

 

14,868

 

57,703

 

53,766

 

Commissions

 

1,541

 

1,535

 

5,771

 

5,497

 

Taxes, licenses, and fees

 

1,003

 

939

 

3,456

 

3,116

 

General and administrative

 

10,592

 

10,156

 

41,989

 

39,837

 

Total expenses

 

29,253

 

27,498

 

108,919

 

102,216

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

6,994

 

$

6,202

 

$

24,043

 

$

18,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss ratio

 

45.6

%

45.2

%

44.5

%

45.5

%

Net expense ratio

 

37.1

%

38.4

%

39.5

%

41.0

%

Net combined ratio

 

82.7

%

83.6

%

84.0

%

86.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross premiums written

 

$

46,812

 

$

43,327

 

$

161,500

 

$

145,962

 

Net premiums written

 

$

38,160

 

$

36,059

 

$

132,593

 

$

120,511

 

 

Corporate Segment — Results of Operations

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

($ in thousands)

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

 

$

1,898

 

$

1,987

 

$

8,039

 

$

7,948

 

Realized net investment gains (losses)

 

1,028

 

1,008

 

2,735

 

1,888

 

Other income

 

11

 

 

17

 

125

 

Total revenues

 

2,937

 

2,995

 

10,791

 

9,961

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

4,246

 

2,717

 

13,426

 

10,695

 

Interest expense

 

583

 

516

 

2,238

 

2,031

 

Total expenses

 

4,829

 

3,233

 

15,664

 

12,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

(1,892

)

(238

)

(4,873

)

(2,765

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

8,041

 

7,260

 

27,736

 

24,888

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(9,933

)

$

(7,498

)

$

(32,609

)

$

(27,653

)

 



 

State National Companies, Inc. Press Release

Page 10

 

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

 

The accompanying information provides a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures such as net income, earnings per share, return on equity or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or EBITDA, is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because it reflects adjustments to net income for interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization.  Management believes this measure is helpful to investors and analysts because it provides a supplemental measure of evaluating core financial performance between periods.

 

STATE NATIONAL COMPANIES, INC.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

2016

 

2015

 

EBITDA

 

$

23,742

 

$

22,775

 

$

83,172

 

$

75,758

 

Reconciliation of EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

14,096

 

$

13,914

 

$

49,077

 

$

44,666

 

Plus: Interest expense

 

583

 

516

 

2,238

 

2,031

 

Plus: Income tax expense

 

8,041

 

7,260

 

27,736

 

24,888

 

Plus: Depreciation and amortization

 

1,022

 

1,085

 

4,121

 

4,173

 

EBITDA

 

$

23,742

 

$

22,775

 

$

83,172

 

$

75,758

 

 

###